02/21/13

St. Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival Announces Initial Lineup

Several R&B acts to be featured alongside of jazz

The 13-day Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival (formerly the St. Lucia Jazz Festival) will take place April 30-May 12 on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia. the bulk of the festival events will be held at Pigeon Island National Landmark. The festival, now in its 22nd year, will feature over 50 artists. The 2013 event will also see the much awaited return of Jazz on the Square in the heart of the capital city Castries and a return to the open-air venue of Balenbouche Estate in the south.

Kris King

Etienne Charles

In a press release, the promoters announced, “The festival will open with much fanfare on April 30 at the ‘people’s auditorium,’ the Mindoo Phillip Park, to a line-up that will be announced shortly. From the get go, the musical presentations are unrivalled with Caribbean jazz, Creole collaborations and African infused funky rhythms that can only be found on the unique stellar lineup of Jazz in the South, Fond d’Or and the Derek Walcott Square. The festival’s new listings of artistic activities that will incorporate drama and dance, steel pan, spoken words, fashion shows and other cultural extravaganzas will follow at key venues stretching from the northern town of Gros-Islet to Vieux Fort in the south.”

Performances at the Gaiety on Rodney Bay on May 8 and 9 will feature Trinidadian-born Trumpet player Etienne Charles; Cuban jazz pianist Roberto Fonseca; contemporary jazz bands from the French Antilles Fal Frett and the John Scofield Uberjam Band. Main stage activities at the Pigeon Island National Landmark will begin on Friday May 10, with performances from Ginuwine; Saint Lucian songwriter and producer ACE and the the Jacksons.

Headlining the festival will be R Kelly. Other scheduled acts include the O’Jays; David Rudder, Tito Puente Jr.; Ronald ‘Boo’ Hinkson and Akon.

For more information on the full lineup for Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival 2013 along with show dates, venues and ticket sales, visit St. Lucia Jazz.